Seizing Serenity

“If I do anything strange, like stop or move in an unpredictable way during practice, don’t be alarmed.” This student’s comment brought on an aura of impending danger, disrupting the small class of two other students and two teachers.

When I experienced a mild seizure during the second session of our class, my spoken instructions and movements stopped, my eyes closed, and I rested my head to one side momentarily. Upon returning from this “absence,” my thoughts were scattered and out of focus. Where did we leave off? What movement were we on? Fortunately, it took less than a minute to clear my thinking. I appreciated that Barbara was teaching with me–to be present in case of just such an interruption.

During teacher training, my presentation dealt with how I manage seizures during practice. It became my resolve to bring the serenity of T’ai Chi Chih to others with similar experiences. So after a sales pitch to my epilepsy support group, who should sign up for class but the leader herself! Louise, being a very speedy personality, finds that she loves T’ai Chi Chih and enjoys how its practice calms her down. We both ride home from class with Barbara, since it is unsafe for those of us who have seizures to drive.

Week eight of class rolls around all too soon. Team teaching has worked out well, allowing for a front and side or back view of each movement to be demonstrated concurrently. Now it turns out to be Louise’s turn to show us her type of seizure. Her comment was, “We never get to see our own seizures. Just those of others. And each person’s are different.” I was leading the early movements when Louise offered her warning. She could feel a seizure coming on. Standing face to face with her, I saw her whole body tense and begin to collapse. She was about to hit her head on objects behind her, but I caught her just in time and guided her safely down to the floor. After a short struggle, she relaxed, rested her head in my lap, turned to the side, and kicked the wall.

Where is the chi during a seizure? I was frightened and yet curious to see someone else through this “storm.” Louise was unharmed, but dazed. It took some ten minutes of darting around the bookstore (our host for the class) for her to calm down and to recognize her surroundings again. We rejoined the others to finish the final practice and say our good-byes.

Thanks to the Serenity Shop for providing our classroom space and for being understanding about those of us who suddenly “seize up” and lose our bearings. T’ai Chi Chih helps us to ground again, to calm down, and to find our center.

Thanks to Justin for this joyous way to guide our healing. My student, Barbara, and I have experienced “serenity in the midst of activity.”

Thanks to Barbara for sharing this teaching/learning experience of “joy in the heart, joy in the mind, joy in the soul.”